We are thrilled to report that progression on Project Z, the pilot project for Architecture Brigades in Honduras, is nearing completion! Community members first began working on the project in August, 2010 and the first Brigade came from DePaul University in November. Over the course of these past 9 months, 5 Brigades have contributed to the construction. Our estimated date for completion is July 15, 2011! Congrats to DePaul and all the Brigades that participated in construction!
Check out a photo album of the progression of Project Z on Facebook
Project Z is a primary and secondary school that is being constructed in Zurzular, Honduras. The project is funded by DePaul University in Chicago. The Honduran community of Zurzular has approximately 180 primary school-aged children (first through sixth grade). Even though grades are divided into morning and afternoon sessions, the current one-room school that we are replacing is literally overflowing with students every day. With no space for individual work, group study, or private tutoring, students often resort to completing homework in the street, and teachers feel unable to provide some children with the individual attention they need to succeed.
The new Centro Baisco (Project Z) not only accommodates all of Zurzular’s primary school children, but also all of the secondary school students (seventh through twelfth grade) from surrounding communities. While block scheduling will still be employed, each of he three classrooms only holds two grades at a time, allowing for greater student-teacher interaction. Further, a library, study benches, and ample covered exterior space ensures that students have plenty of room to work alone or in groups, and teachers can tutor students before and after class. Perhaps the greatest achievement of these vastly improved facilities, though, is that they can be constructed at roughly the same cost as a government school of similar dimensions.
What is the need for Architecture Brigades in Honduras? A typical community profile comprised of data from 97 community needs assessments in GB communities in Honduras:
Highest Education Level Offered:
- 45 communities (46%) have only until 6th grade offered in their community
- 33 communities (34%) have only until 9th grade offered in their community
- 19 communities (20%) have only until 12th grade offered in their community
Most communities where we implement Water, Microfinance, Architecture, Medical, and Dental Brigades offer only up until a 6th grade education.
Our First Video of Project Z! See how far we’ve come!
